Sony Online Entertainment announced today that it is now accepting applications and submissions for its 2014 Gamers In Real Life (G.I.R.L.) Game Design Competition. Through the G.I.R.L. scholarship program, SOE awards one winner with a $10,000 scholarship to be applied towards tuition, room and board, and other educational expenses at the winner's college or university. In addition to the cash prize, the winner is also be given the opportunity to be hired as a paid intern for up to 10 weeks at SOE's headquarters in San Diego for hands-on experience working on its game including PlanetSide and EverQuest.

"The G.I.R.L. Scholarship aims to be the first step towards empowering bright careers for young women in the video game industry," said Laura Naviaux, Senior Vice President of Global Sales & Marketing, Sony Online Entertainment. "By helping to create more opportunities for women in game design, we are helping to shepherd fresh perspectives and new ideas into our industry."

Submissions for the 2014 G.I.R.L. Game Design Competition will close on March 19, 2014. To apply, applicants must register with Scholarship America (SOE's scholarship administrator), and submit their application for evaluation, as directed here.